Eat, Stay and Play: Bali’s newest hotspots making a splash this year

It’s hard to believe it’s been 18 years since Ku De Ta first unveiled its swanky beachfront bar and restaurant in Bali’s Seminyak. With bright red umbrellas and an infinity pool overlooking the Tasman Sea, it was the first of its kind. A decade later, it was joined by another; Potato Head Bali.

These days, however, swish spots open far more frequently. The island is now teeming with new places to eat, stay, and play, and to make them easier for you to sort through them, we’ve rounded them up here.

EAT

Luigi’s Hot Pizza

Graffiti-decorated shipping container walls, basic picnic tables, and a menu featuring metre-long pizzas – Luigi’s Hot Pizza in up-and-coming suburb Canggu is seriously cool. A joint venture by the owner of Motel Mexicola and the one of Sydney’s Icebergs, the place serves pizzas with some of the thinnest bases outside of Italy. Wash them down with deceivingly strong cocktails.

SoulBytes

Though you’d never be hard pressed to find quality coffee in Bali, the java at SoulBytes in Seminyak is worth checking out. Using a blend of beans from all around Indonesia, their baristas consider each cup to be a work of art. The venue has food too. For brekkie, go with the banana pancakes slathered in honeycomb butter and a strawberry and cashew milk smoothie. When lunchtime rolls around (most Bali restaurants and cafés don’t mind lingering), order an Aussie beef burger or rocket and pear salad drizzled in lemon dressing.

Bikini

Designed to be both sophisticated and playful – think brass accented bar stools and a marble bar alongside bathroom mirrors with quirky phrases like ‘Have you got sand in your something?’ written on them – Bikini in Seminyak is an avid Instagrammer’s dream. With the food offering not under any culinary category and the team wanting instead to take diners on a journey, you know you’re in for an experience.

STAY

The Slow

Though Canggu itself has a chilled out vibe (think swaying rice fields and barefoot bar-goers), The Slow is on a whole other level. Situated on one of the area’s two main streets, it looks like just a restaurant from the front. And though it has one, walk inside and you’ll also find an art gallery, rooftop bar, and 12 chic suites. Book one with a private pool, and you’ll never need to leave the property.

COMO Uma Canggu

Also in Canggu is COMO Uma Canggu. Blending together Asian and Italian designs, it features 119 rooms and suites, some with individual rooftop pools. It’s set across 2.2 acres of land and has a prime position near some of Bali’s best surf breaks. If you’re not a surfer, consider learning with a beginners’ lesson. Dine on locally-sourced ingredient meals at the on-site restaurant COMO Beach Club.

Four Seasons Resort at Jimbaran Bay

While this hotel isn’t new, after being closed for two years while undergoing $20 million of renovation, it only re-opened last year. Taking on board feedback from guests, its 147 villas now have more sun-lounging space, as well as larger bedrooms, pools, and living areas. The resort also offers spa treatments, yoga, woodcarving classes, and water biking adventures. While the property itself is incredible, what’s of note is its staff – 60 per cent of which have been with the resort for over 20 years.

PLAY

ARTOTEL Beach Club

If you’d never considered venturing to Sanur on the east coast of Bali, ARTOTEL Beach Club alone might make you want to do so. The venue, with its large lagoon pool, manicured lawns, boutique shops, and numerous food and drink options, is a real-life playground. And it’s not just a place to unwind. Stimulate your mind with their wide-ranging program of art and activities.

OMNIA Dayclub Bali

When you find out OMNIA Dayclub Bali was opened by the same group responsible for the Las Vegas one of the same name, it all makes sense. Perched atop a cliff, the place has bungalows with private plunge pools, a shared swim-up bar, and an eye-catching tower hovering above it. Catch an international DJ spinning and a killer sunset as you sip on an expertly-made cocktail.

Ulu Cliffhouse

Another clifftop playground is Ulu Cliffhouse in South Kuta. Stepping into it, you’ll feel worlds away from the island’s busy streets. Set around a 25-metre infinity pool, it also boasts direct access to the beach, an on-site spa, and a restaurant and bar. Unlike other beach clubs, however, it also has a gallery space, and an in-house surfboard shaper, and a recording studio. You know, for when you’re ready to record your next hit.